A. I am Nupur and I always wanted to have a dog. I was working earlier but now, I am a housewife.

Q. Can you tell us something about your pet?

A. I have six Shih Tzus and their names are Scooter, Baily, Scotch, Jerry, Bubbles and Naties. Scooter and Baily are the parents and they are 3 years old and 2.5 years old respectively. Other four dogs are their kids.

Q. What was it like when you first saw him?

A. I always dreamt of having a dog but I was very confused as to which breed should I have. I was aware that Shih Tzu is a small - toy breed so, I got scooter. Later with time, I felt that he should have a companion so I brought Bailey but today I look after them and their kids.

Q. What has been the biggest challenge of being a pet parent?

A. The biggest challenge was that, though I like dogs, still I didn’t have much knowledge about them but with time I have learned that they also suffer from tick fever. To cope up with this challenge I read a lot about Shih Tzu and how to take care of them. While reading I came to know that Shih Tzu being a small breed should not be fed bones because it can get stuck in their intestines which would lead to surgery.

Q. What has been the rewarding part of being a pet parent?

A. Having a lovely pet who loves you back is rewarding. My pet has given me fame and publicity because today he has been identified and acknowledged as being the best pedigree breed of Shih Tzu in Mumbai.

Q. What has been your learning experience of being a pet parent?

A. Every day is a learning experience with them because I have more than 2 dogs and they all have different traits. They all have changed my perspective towards qualities like loyalty and every day they teach me something new which has helped me to become more confident in life.

Q. Can you give us a message for new / aspiring pet parent?

A. According to me every person should at least have one pet and if you can’t purchase one then you should adopt one as they will really change the way you look at your life. Taking care of them will help you to become a better human being.